Target trap



July 29, 1930. w. l. SPANGLER TARGET TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed vJune l2, 1928 lf@ Je Y,

attorney July 29, 1930. w. l. SPANGLER 1,771,865

' lTARGET TRAP Filed June l2, 1928 2 ySheets-Sheet 2 gyn/manto@ Patented July 29, 1930 I l` 'i M- I l vUNITED STATESy PATENT or-'Flcak WILLIAM I. SPANGLER, OF TARLTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE l(')IIAMBEBLIN CAR? TBIDGE @a TARGET COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TAB-GET TRAP Application lediJune 12, 1928. Serial No. 284,729.

f'" This invention relates to improvements in arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully l target traps, and has for its primary object described and pointed out in the appended the provision of a missile projector of simclaims. l j

s plified and improved construction, reliable In the accompanying drawings:

and effective in operation and not apt to be- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a target trap 55 come out of order when subjected tol susconstructed in accordance with thepresent tained and intensive use. invention,

It is another object of the invention'to Figure '2 is a side elevation thereof, provide a target projector which will throw- Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View 1c targets in a manner so that the Iiying or protaken on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 eo.- jected target while in-iiight will rotate axialof Figure 2, y i l R1 at'high speeds, providing an improved Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken yingy motion. A further object resides in On the plane indicated by the line-4 4 of a trap wherein the targetfthrowing arm or Fi re 2, i

carrier rotates through a circle of substan- A igure 5 is an end elevation of the trap c5.

tially 360 degrees after being released from as viewed from the actuating end thereof, 1'/ its set or normal position and, further, to Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view disconstruct fthe trap so that the target carrier closing the locking bar for retaining` ther rotates through a throwing sector at high 4main springen the trap in a set osition, v i

velocity free from resistance from spring Figure 7 is a vertical sectiona view taken 70 tension or other retarding forces and again, on the line 7--7 of Figure 2,

,/" the trap provides for the full rotary mo- Figure 8 is a perspective view ofthe locktion of the target carrier rather than the lneam, y c

p oscillatory motion ordinarily l imparted to 4 igure 9 is a detail view ofthe throwing y carriers or throwing arms of traps of this lever. ype. Referring more particularly to the draw- Another feature of the invention is to conings, m improved target trap, which is des-. struct a target trap so that it may project ylgnlte in its entirety by the letter A, Conone or two targets at each operation, and to sists essentially of a base 1, a main frame 2, 30 sofform the trap that the increased tensiony 111- the f0rm of a heavy metallic casting, a so on the main ,operating spring, necessary in throwing arm 0r target carrier 3 and assothe throwing of double targets over singlel elated actuatin mechanism, hereinafter detargets, is provided for without altering ad- SCIllOet, for e eeting the operation of the justments so that the trap may project either thIOWlng arm 0r carrier. one/or two targets at .will of the operator Thebase 1 is preferably in the form of a a5 without delays or the laborious and cumberheavy Casting and `iS mounted in any Suitl some adjustments hitherto involved to perable stationary manner tobe secure against mit of this feature. i' p v accident-al movement. The upper surface of f mother Object of thg invention resides in the base is provided with an upstanding web 4" the/provision of a target trap wherein a mov 4, with which co-operates a complemental de- 90. able stop is provided for regulating the posipending webv5 formed with and projecting tions of the taget on the throwing arm, and from the lower Jpart of the frame 2. The wherein provision is made for removing the frame 2 is pivotally united with the base 1 stop l, device 'from the path of movement of for adjustment in a vertical plane by means r the throwing arm before the trap has been 0f a hOIiZOIllly extending bOlt 0I Pin 6, 95A sprung.y which furnishes a horizontal pivotal axis 'With/these and other objects in view which about which the frame may be adjusted to will, appear as' 'the description proceeds, the control its angular position of operation or, invention consists in the novel features of more specifically, the angular position of construction, combinations of elements and operation of the throwing arm or carrier 3. 1 00 To maintain the frame fixed in such angular positions, the web 4 is provided with an arcu-` ate slot 7, which receives a bolt 8 carried in connection with the web 5. The bolt 8 is provided at one end with a tightening nut which may be turned so as to frictionally clamp the webs 4 and 5 together and to thereby securely retain the angular operating position of the frame with respect to the horizontal. In this connection it will be understood that by adjusting the frame 2 vertically and angularly the height of the flying released target may he governed with rela- .tion to the area over which the target is projected.

Fixed for rotation within substantially vertical bearings carried by the frame 2 is a shaft 9, and to which is attached at its upper end the arm or carrier 3, so that the rotation of the shaft 9 will result in corresponding rotation on the part of the target arm or carrier. The arm or carrier comprises a crank portion 10 provided at its outer end with a depending stud or pin 11.` Further, the carrier is formed to include an aluminum casting comprising essentially a flat horizontal plate as is indicated by the numeral 12 on the drawings. The plate 12 is loosely fitted around the upper end of the shaft 9 but is secured to the crank arm 10 b Vmeans of a boltl connection 13. This connection operates in an arcuate slot so that the plate 12 may be adjusted horizontally relative to thecrank arm 10 and yet retained in fixed positionsof adjustment. One side of the plate 12 is provided with a lon itudinally extending flange 14, provided wit a friction strip ofD rubber .or the like and against which is .placed the target or targets 15. Further, the plate 12 is provided at its forward end with a headed screw 16, which is positionable in any one of a plurality of threaded o enings 17. The screw 16 provides a stop or the left angle target 15. It will be understood that the trap may throw either singles or doubles, that is to say it may project either o ne or two targets at each operation. Opposite to the flange or friction strip 14 is a longitudinally extending rib 18, which serves to coniine the target in the inner part of the arm and to cause it to travel along the strip 14 1n response to centrifugal force when the arm'or carrier is released. By thus engaging with the friction strip 14 each target 1s given a rapid whirling or rotary motion when released from the arm 3Vthereby stabilizing its sailing motion and procuring greater distance of flight.

The outer portion of the carrier co-operates with a movable stop 19. This stop is in the form of a knob carried by the outer end of an arm 20, which is pivoted as at 21 on the frame 2. This arm carries an offset stud 22 which engages with a release lever 23 pivotally mounted as at 24 on the frame 2. The

upper end of the lever 23 engages with the pin or stud 11 to confine the carrier 3 in a set position preparatory to the projection of a target. Vhen the release lever 23 is oscillating, as will be hereinafter set forth, to clear the pin or stud 11, to permit of the rotation of thel carrier, the stud 22 is engaged to rock the arm 2O about its pivot 21, which draws the sto 19 downwardly out of the path of swinging movement of the carrier. It will thus be seen that the carrier is provided with both stationary and movable stops for confining the targets in the proper initial positions on the throwing arm. A light spring 25 co-operates with the stop arm 20 for the purpose of normally maintaining the latter in an elevated position. By reference t0 Figure l it will be seen that normally the movable stop is situated within a recessed or cut out portion provided at the outer end ofA the plate 12.

The inner or actuating end of the trap includes a horizontally extending stud 26. Upon this stud there is pivotally mounted a pair of operating levers, the inner of which levers being designated by the numeral 27 and the outer b the numeral 28. Both of these levers are reely pivoted at their upper ends to turn about the stud 26, while the inner lever 27 is provided with an outwardl projecting lug or ear 29 which engages with one of the edges of the outer lever 28 so that when said lever is swung in a predetermined direction the inner lever will be moved in unison therewith. The outer lever 28 includes a yoke shaped lower end 30 to which is pivotally connected, as at 31, one end of a longitudinally extending operating rod 32. The

other end of this rod, as shown in Figure 9,

is pivotally connected as at 33 with the lower end of a pivoted operating post 34. This post is pivotally mounted as at 35 upon a standard or bracket 36 situated more or less remotely from trap A, and it will be seen by manually oscillating 'the post 34 about its pivot 35corresponding movement may be imparted to the outer lever 28 and in certain instances to the inner lever 27.

The inner lever 27 is provided with a laterally projecting ear 37 provided with anopening in which is slidably mounted a spring stem 38, the other end of said stem being equipped with nuts 39 which engage with one wall ofthe ear 37. The inner end of the stem 38 is connected with one end of a strong coil spring 40, arranged within the contines of the l frame 2. The forward or opposite end of this spring is connected with a collar 41 which carries a stem 42, the latter having its forward end pivotally connected with a pin or stud 43 which depends from a cam member 44, the latter being fixed to the lower end of the shaft 9, the stud 43 and member 44 together constituting a crank for rotating Said shaft. The lower end of the pin or stud 43 is threaded for the reception of a nut 45 which .operates to hold the stem 42 in its applied position.

The cam member 44 includes a hub 46 suitably fastened to the lower end of the shaft 9, and from this hub there projects a cam plate 47, the outer surface or periphery of said plate being notched as at 48 to provide teeth adapted for co-operation with a pawl 49 which is pivotally mounted as at 50 on the frame 2, and is pressed by means of a spring 51 so that the outer end of said pawl may cooperate normally with the-teeth 48 for the purpose of preventing reverse or return movement of the carrier from its set course of rotation. The upper surface of the plate 47 is provided with a pin or stud 52 which engages normally with the curvedfend of a pivoted locking bar 53. This bar .has its opposite end provided with an eye whichis pi'votally mounted in connection witha-horizontal pin 54 formed with the inner leveri`27. The

ar 53, as shown in Figure 6, is received within a guide bracket 55 carried by the frame 2.

This bracket includes an opening 56 through A which the bar 53 extends, the lowerA wall of said opening being inclined as indicated and the rear portion of this inclined wall provides a shoulder 57. This shou'lderis adapted to engage with teeth 58 and 58a formed -upon the under surface of the bar 53. and

said bar is normally forced downwardly to insure this engagement by a light spring 59. The tooth 58 is engaged with the shoulder, 57 when single targets are projected and the j tooth 588L with said shoulder when double targets are used. l

In the operation of the trapv the target or targetsare placed on the carrier or arm 3, as indicated in Figure l, while the carrier or throwing arm is retained in the normal position indicated. Tension is then applied to the main spring 40 by rocking the post 34 in a forward direction, which results in rocking the outer'lever 28 rearwardly so that it moves the inner lever 27 in unison therewithby reason of the lug or ear 29. Since the inner lever is connected with the c'oil spring 40, and since the cam member 44 is normally held against rotation, it follows that the spring 40 will be stretched or placed under required tension by the rocking of the post 34. This rocking movement of the post is arrested by an adjustable stop screw 60 carried'by the post standard 36. When the spring 40 is being placed under proper tension the rocking movement of the inner lever 27 results in drawing the bar 53 rearwardly so that tooth 58 for single targets or 58 for double targetswill be engaged with the stationary locking shoulder 57, thereby retaining the spring under requisite ,tension for service required. 'It will be `apparent that' sharp crank arm 10 of said shaft is in engagement the'ou-ter lever 28 independently of the inner .lever 27. This forward movement of the outer lever brings the latterinto contact with one end of a spring pressed rod 62, which is ,slidably carried by the up er part of the frame 2. The forward end o the rod 62 is connected with the lower end of the pivoted release lever 23, so thatwhen the post 34'contacts with the resilient --stop idevice 61 movement will then be imparted to the lever 23 so that continued forward movetrap is sprung or releasedl ment of, the post, against the resistance of the device 61, will swing the lever 23 to a releasing position with respect to the pin 11 of crank 10` and against the stud 22 ofthe stop arm 20. This results in the lowering of the movable stop 19 and the release of the target carrying arm 3,

ermitting uence ofthe main spring 40 which is econnected in an oi center position to the cam member v44. The construction provides for the full rotation of the target, carrier or arm through .a circle of 360 degrees, producing the releaseand projection of the targets in the manner described. When the carrier begins its rotation following release it will be observed that the pin or stud 52 carried by the cam plate 47 is out of `engagement with the retracted locking bar 53, since'the teeth ofythis bar are in engagement with the shoulder 57 on the bracket 55. However,

after some rotationon the partof the cam the ltail 63 of v member and 'the target arm, the cam member reaches under and contacts with the forward end of the bar 53. The

ta il 63 is formed to include a hump or elevator stud 52 immediately before the target.

or carrier arm reaches its full position of rotation. The engagement of the stud or pin 52- with the forwardend of the releasedl locking bar permits the spring 4() to function as a. check device or cushion to arrest gradually, and without injury to the mechanisrn of the trap, the swinging movement f the arm 3 which, in operation, travels at the latter to respond to the inbv the spring pressed pawl 49 which engages with the teeth.' of the cam plate. y

In View of the foregoing it will be seen that `the presentinvention provides a target trap of relatively simple construction,'consisting of but few and readily operated and accessible parts, whichare not likely to become out of order or to occasion repair. The target trap may be readily operated from a more or less remote position by the manual oscillation of the operating post 34 which, of course,

mayF be very conveniently accomplished. It will be observed that the arm or carrier moves through a full circle of movement without being released and does not have the oscillatory back and forth motion which has heretofore been employed in connection with arms of this character. The single main spring serves for the purpose of rotating the carrier primarily and secondarily to provide a resilient means for absorbing the shock incident to the stopping of the movement of the throwing arm. This provides a trap wherein vibration and undue wear are eliminated and moreover a trap is presented wherein the parts function positively in proper correlated order. The friction strip 14 engages with the peripheral edge portions of the targets while the latter are on the carrier, and since the latter swings at high speeds following release, the targets are given a rapid whirling motion by reason of their contact with said strip when being throwncentrifugally from the'carrier. The carrier rotates `for substantially three-quarters of a full circle, or more, before its motion is gradually checked by contact with the locking bar or, stated in other words, during the time while the targets are on the carrier the latter is revolving'freely and Without obstruction in any manner so that high rotative speeds of the carrier are obtained to provide for improved projection of the targets. When it is desired to project double targets it is merely necessary to engage the tooth 581 with the shoulder 57, which can be accomplished from the operating post by adjusting the screw 60 so that the bottom of the post 34 will contact therewith when the notch 58L registers with Vthe shoulder 57, thereby to impart the necesing nuts, springs and other threaded devices through slowly executed operations to procure the desired tension on the operating spring. Y

In operation, the throwing arm will ordinarily rotate somewhat in excess of 360 before its rotation is checked by the tension of the spring 40. This rotation in excesss of j arm 28 is moved rearwardly to tension the spring 40. In the event that the pawl does not engage this `first notch, it can en age the second notch; and in either case, tie pawl prevents the throwing arm and associated y mechanism from being subjected `to injurious jarring by excessive rebound.

While I have described what I consider to be the preferred form of the invention, nevertheless it will be understood that various changes may be made therein from time to time in accordance with the expediency of practice, and I therefore do not limit myself `to the precise structure or arrangements in combinations above set forth, but reserve the right to employ such modications that may be said to fall fairly within the scope ofthe above disclosure and following claims.

What is claimed is: v v

1. In a .target trap, a frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame, a target carrier fixed to rotate in unison withsaid shaft, a crank carried by the lower end of said shaft, a plvotally mounted actuating lever carried by said frame, a spring having the opposite i ends'thereof connected with said lever and with said crank, means for rocking said lever to place said spring under tension, latch means for releasing sai-d throwing arm to permit ofv rotation of said arm in response to sald spring tension, and means for stopping the rotation of said arm against said spring.

2. In a target trap, a frame, 'a throwingr arm rotatably mounted on said frame, latch mechanism for retaining said arm in a set o r normal position, a main spring co-operative with said arm for effecting rotation thereof. when disengaged from said latch mechamsm, means admitting of a complete clrcle of rotation on the part of said arm for each complete cycle of operation ofthe trap, and means for causing said spring to Gradually check the rotation of said arm lit or near the end of its cycle of travel.

8. In a target trap, a frame, a swinging iio narines carrier mounted on said frame, a spring for rotating said carrier, means for retaining said carrier in a latched position against the influence of said spring, and means for causing the spring to limit the swinging movement of said carrier to a circle of substantially() degrees following the release of said latch mechanism.

4. In a target trap, a frame, ashaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a target carrier connected with said shaft, latch mechanism maintaining said carrier in a normal position, a crank carried by said shaft, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a spring connected at one end with said operating lever and at its other end with said crank, a lookin bar carried by said lever for retaining sai spring under tension, means for tripping such latch mechanism to permit said carrier to respond to said spring and to rotate to substantially a full circle of movement, and means for releasing said locking bar upon initial movement of said carrier to permit said locking bar and spring to function as a cushioning means to gradually arrest the return movementl of said carrier to a normal position.

5. In a target trap, a completely rotary target projecting arm, a frame carrying said arm, a s ring for actuating said arm, means for placing said spring under tension, and latch means for releasing said arm to permit of its response to the influence of said spring, and means for cushioning the projecting arm against said spring.

6. In a target trap, a frame, a rotatable target projector, a spring for rotating said projector, said projector being movable in each cycle of operation through substantially 360 degrees of movement, and means for gradually cushioning the movement of said projector against said spring as the projector reaches the end of its cycle of movement, Said arm having free rotation through an arc of approximately 270 degrees before said cushioning means becomes effective.

7. In a target trap, a frame, a swinging target projector, a spring for effecting the movement oi' said projector, lat/ch mechanism for timing the movement ot said projector a fixed target stop carried by said projector, and a movable target stop carried by said frame and co-operative with said projector when the latter occupies a normal position.`

8. In a target trap, a frame, a swinging target carrier mounted on said `ranie a spring co-operative with said carrier and normally tending to revolve the same when said spring is under tension, latch mechanism for timing the release of said carrier in response to the influence of said spring, and a movable target stop carried by said trame and operated by said latch mechanism to assume an inactive position when said latch mechanismis actuated to release said carrier.

9. In a target trap, a frame, a shaft rotatable in bearings provided by said frame, a swinging target carrier fixed for rotation with said shaft, a crank carried by said shaft and spaced from said carrier, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said frame, a spring connected at one end to one of said levers, the opposite end of said spring being connected with said crank, a pivoted operating post, a connection between said post and the second of said levers, whercb upon the oscillation of said post both of said levers are oscillated to lace said spring under tension, latch mec anism normally preventing rotation of said carrier, and an operating connection between said latch mechanism and the second of said levers whereby said post may be operated to move said latch mechanism to a cari rier releasing position.

l0. In a target trap, a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a target carrier fixed to said shaft, a crank fixed to said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a main operating spring connected at one end with said lever and at its other end with said crank, a locking bar carried by said lever cooperative with said frame to retain said spring under tension upon predetermined operation of the lever, and release mechanism for permitting o the timed. rotation of said carrier in response to the influence of said spring, and means operating through the locking bar for causing the target carrier to .be cushioned against the main operating spring.

ll. In a target trap, a frame, a shaft rotat ably carried by said frame, a target carrier mounted for movement in unison with said shaft, a crank carried by said shaft, a pivoted operating member carried by said frame, a main spring, said spring being connected at one end to said operating member and at its other end to said crank, a pivoted locking bar carried by said lever and provided with a tooth adapted for engagement with a shoulder when said spring has reached a position of tension, latch mechanism movable to permit said carrier to revolve in response to the inuence of said spring, 'and an operating surface upon said crank situated to engage with said bar following predetermined operation of the carrier to release the tooth of said bar from locking engagement with the shoulder, whereby said bar may return to a normal po sition to cushion the return movement of the carrier to a normal position.

12.l In a target trap, a frame, a rotary target projecting arm carried by said trame, said arm being adapted to project both single and double targets, spring means for rotating said arm, latch devices for governing the release of said arm, and operating means spaced from said frame for varying the tension of said spring means to adapt the latter to either single or double targets, and means for stop- Iii in A holding means so ping the movenient'of the projecting arm by cushioning it against the spring means.

13. ln a target trap, .the combination of a pivotally supported throwing arm, a latch for said arm, an operating spring connected with said arm, means for tensioning said spring, means for holding the spring under tension, means for releasing the latch so as to permit the spring to operate the throwing arm, means for releasing the tension of the spring after the arm has made part of a revolution so that the arm may continue to rotate by its own momentum, and means for cushioning the movement of the throwing arm by causing it to apply tension to the 14. n a target trap, the combination of a shaft, a taret carrier arranged to be rotated by said shaft, a stop for the target carrier, a crank for the shaft, a spring connected to the crank for rotating the shaft, means for tensioning the spring, means for holding the spring under tension, means for moving the stop so that the target carrier may be rotated by the spring, means rotatwith the shaft for releasing the springas to release the tension of the spring after the target carrier has made part of a rotation, means carried by the shaft and cooperating with the means for holding the spring under tension so as 4to cushion the target carrier at or near the end of its rotation,

and means for prevent ing rebound of the operating mechanism.

l5. ln a target trap, the combination of' a pivotally supported throwing arm, a latch for said erm, a throwing. spring connected with said arm, and means whereby the said spring serves; upon the release of said latch: lirst, to throw the arm in one direction; second, to release its throwing action upon said arm when the latter shall have made a partial revolution, whereby the arm may continne to move in the same direction by its own momentum; and third, to serve as the sole means for cushioning the said arm at the end of a complete revolution thereof.

16. ln a target trap, the combination of a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted said rame, a throwing arm mounted on said sli-aft, a spring operatively. connected with said shaft, means for holding the said arm in ghrowin position, a tension rod having longitudine 1y spaced stop-engaging por tions thereon, a stop carried by said frame and cooperating with the stopengaging portions ci' said rod, a member connected with the said spring for tensioning 'the latter, an adjustable stop cooperating with the said member thereby to permit the latter to variably tension saidspring, and a connection between the said rod and the said member.

iQ/rases shaft, a crank also secured to said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a throwing spring connected at one end to said lever and at its other end to said crank, a locking bar connected'to said lever and having longitudinally spaced stop portions, a cooperating stop member carried by said frame, a pivoted post connected to said lever and adapted when moved in one direction to operate the lever in a direction to place the spring under tension, and an adjustable stop arranged to variably limit the movement of the post in such direction thereby to enable one or the other of the stop portions of the rod to engage the appropriate stop member on the frame, and means for releasing the said arm after the tensioning of the said spring.

18. ln a target trap, the combination of a pivotally supported throwing arm, a latch for said arm, a throwing sprni connected with said arm, and means where y the said spring serves, upon the release of said latch: first, to throw thc` arm in one direction; second, to release its throwing action upon said arm when the latter shall have made a partial revolution, whereby the arm may continue to move in the same direction by its own momentum; and third, to serve as the Sole means for cushioning the said arm at the end of a complete and means -or preventing the rebound of the said arm and of the operating mechanism connected thereto.

ln testimon whereof I ax my signature,

' LLIAM l'. SPArlGlJlllR i7. ln a target trap, the combination of a treme, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame,

a target throwing arm secured to said revolution thereof,

iso 

